February 19, 1999

There was both good news and bad news to report at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Legislative Council. The good news: the town’s grand list had grown by $75.7 million — a pleasantly surprising jump of 4.61 percent. The grand list is a key figure on the revenue side and annually plays a role in offsetting the town’s increasing budget requests. The bad news: big budget cuts are expected. The proposed 1999-2000 budget appears to be up eight or nine percent over the existing spending plan. If a referendum were to be held today, taxpayers would be voting on a tax rate increase of 2.25 mills, or $3.66 million.

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Captain Owen Carney says there are some things he will miss and other things he will not miss when he retires from the local police force at the end of this month. The captain said this week he will miss the relationships he has developed with his colleagues. “I’m going to miss the people here … It’s a good bunch of people here,” he said. However, he will not miss the disruptions and the stresses posed by a life in law enforcement. “I’m not going to miss the 3 am phone calls. I’m not going to miss the stress,” he said. Captain Carney retires February 26 after spending 27 years in the department.

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Marine First Lieutenant Gerald J. Finnegan Jr, son of Donald and Nancy Finnegan of Newtown, was designated a naval aviator and received his “Wings of Gold” while serving with Training Air Wing Five, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla. Lt Finnegan received the Commodore’s Award for outstanding performance as a student naval aviator in primary flight training. He also earned Training Wing Five’s Advanced Academic Achievement Award in the academic phase of advanced helicopter flight training. He is a 1991 graduate of Newtown High School and a 1996 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.

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Class size doubled in an elementary classroom at St Rose School this month. Lifelike characters sat along countertops of the room looking like they might participate in class at any moment. The characters were created by students in Frances Van Zanten’s fourth grade class. Children were to select a book to read from a list of Newbery Award books. They were assigned a written book report as well as a three-minute oral presentation, and then encouraged to assess their own work by writing a self-evaluation. The class as a whole then critiqued each speech using guidelines provided. As a culminating activity in the project, the children were to design a visual aid that represented a character from their chosen book. The results were original and creative. Slowly a cast of characters made of papier-mache, paint, paste, and sewn materials took their places in the room.

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The Cub Scouts from Hawley School’s Pack 70 gathered last week at the Middle School for their annual celebration of scouting’s anniversary: the Blue and Gold Dinner. The theme for this year’s dinner was “Baloo and Gold,” in reference to the lovable bear Baloo from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, upon whose characters cub scouting is based. The various scout dens rose to the occasion, decorating their tables in creative bear motifs. ... Entertainment was provided by talented comedian Karl Saliter, whose antics included jokes, juggling and stunts. In his finale, Karl juggled knives while playing the harmonica atop a ten-foot unicycle.

February 15, 1974

The Newtown Federation of Teachers and the Board of Education have ratified a new teachers salary contract for 1973-74. The agreement is for a 5.5 per cent salary increase plus increments and is retroactive as of September 1, 1973. This new contract for the salaries is one which was negotiated through a reopened clause in the present two-year contract under which the teachers are presently working. Obtaining a satisfactory agreement was difficult for both sides with negotiations going to mediation and then arbitration.

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Early reports indicate that the “Oregon” plan is working. Drivers in cars with odd-numbered license plates are pulling into gas stations on odd-numbered days, and even-numbered cars are buying gas on even-numbered days. Gas station attendants have remarked that the public seems to be well informed about the plan and willing to cooperate. Seven of the eleven Newtown service stations surveyed are following the plan which began on February 11 in eight area towns on a voluntary basis.

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Mrs Nancy Morrissey, RN, has been appointed director of in-service education at New Milford Hospital, according to Administrator Saul H. Slone. In the position, Mrs Morrissey will assist in formulating and implementing ongoing educational programs for the entire staff. The emphasis in her efforts, said Mr Slone, will be with the professional nursing staff. … Mrs Morrissey received her RN diploma from the Grace New Haven School of Nursing in 1962, and her bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Bridgeport. …she has held staff positions with the Visiting Nurse Association in Waterbury, and at Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown, where she worked in the drug dependency unit. Mrs Morrisey and her husband William live in Newtown with their son.

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Two members of the Lake Lillinonah Authority, Mary Gaudet of Newtown and Patricia Lorenzo of Southbury, returned February 9 from a three-day water quality seminar conducted in Boston. The seminar was sponsored by the New England National Resources Council and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the seminar was to acquaint participants with provisions of the Water Pollution Control Act Amendments, including such items as water resource planning, citizens’ participation, municipal wastewater treatment and the permit program as provided for under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. … Other participants from this area were Leonard Stevens from the Housatonic Valley Association and Patricia Ellsworth from the Lake Candlewood Authority.

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The Sixty Plus Club of Newtown met on Wednesday, February 6 at 1 pm in the Undercroft of Trinity Church. Refreshments were served. Arthur Scherer and Mrs Betty Parrella were guest speakers. They explained the many problems, the great amount of planning needed, and the mandatory health guidelines to be met before the Meals on Wheels program can be started. Everyone came away with a better understanding of what this organization is doing. Miss Marriane Kopko played the piano at refreshment time and also for the sing-along after the business meeting.

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Paul Dedell, son of Mr and Mrs Harry C. Dedell of Newtown, is on the first semester dean’s list at Windham College, a small, coeducational liberal arts college in southern Vermont.

February 11, 1949

On Tuesday, February 8th, the Flagpole Fountain Lunch, a convenient, popular store located in the Atchison block in Newtown Center and conducted by Harold F. Smith for the past 16 years, changed hands. At that time it was sold to Richard Hibbard of South Main street, who assumed his new duties as proprietor immediately. Mr Hibbard will continue the use of the name Flagpole Fountain, which to both Newtowners and outsiders has become as well known as the store itself. He likewise plans to continue the same type merchandise as Mr Smith carried these many years, enlarging by degrees both the stock and the services offered the public.

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A large crowd attended the St John’s card party held in the church rooms on Monday evening of this week. Mrs Pearl J. Tilson, chairman of the committee in charge of the affair, reports that $41 was cleared. Those assisting Mrs Tilson on her committee were Mrs Hazel Kivimaki and Mrs Harold Peterson.

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House Joint Resolution No. 23 has been adopted by the General Assembly as follows: That the fishing season on lakes and ponds is extended through the date of February 27, 1949. The same schedule of open days will prevail during this extension as is provided during the regular open season.

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George Canfield, local painting contractor, and his crew of men have been busy recently redecorating the offices, hallways and post office at the Edmond Town Hall. Some very attractive blue and green tints have been used on the walls, the final appearance compensating a great deal for the disruption necessarily caused to the town officials in their work while the redecorating has been in progress.

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Mrs Paul A. Cullens and Mrs Sarah Mitchell returned home on Monday, following a visit of two weeks with Mrs Cullens’ mother, Mrs S.R. Robinson, in St Petersburg, Florida.

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Mr and Mrs Thomas M. Costello of Sandy Hook announce the birth of a daughter, Peggy Ann Costello, who was born January 22nd at the Griffin hospital, Derby.

February 8, 1924

In spite of the storm of sleet, snow and rain a good sized audience greeted Gov Charles A. Templeton at the meeting of the Church Forum at the Congregational church, Tuesday night. The meeting took place in the auditorium of the church. Gov Templeton, A.P. Smith, president of the Forum, and Rev G.H. Ekins occupied seats on the platform.

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The entire country is in mourning over the passing of the great War President, Woodrow Wilson, who was laid at rest in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday afternoon. President Coolidge beautifully expressed the sentiment of the nation on the death of Mr Wilson, when he said: “The death of Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States from March 4, 1914, to March 4, 1921, which occurred at 11.15 o’clock today at his home at Washington, District of Columbia, deprives the country of a most distinguished citizen, and is an event which causes universal and genuine sorrow. To many of us it brings the sense of a profound personal bereavement.”

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Miss Helen Roach is convalescing, after her recent illness at her home in Sandy Hook.

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Selectman J.J. Northrop, Charles M. Potter and William D. Parker were summoned on jury duty to the Common Pleas Court, civil action, in session at Danbury.

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George R. Wison has sold his place in Taunton to Michael Dinty of New Rochelle, N.Y. They will take possession about April 1.

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George G. Canfield is papering and painting the apartment of Mrs Georgianna O’Connor, recently vacated by Simon Corey.

February 17, 1899

A CLOSE SHAVE FROM A DISASTROUS FIRE: The residence of Dr Edwards M. Smith had a close shave from burning on Saturday. A fire was started in his office by his boy, who left a pail of wood back of the stove. The wood ignited and set fire to the baseboard and floor. It was discovered by Mr MacFarland, who occupies the house, and put out. Had the fire happened any day but Saturday it is probable the house would have been destroyed.

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SNOW FLAKES: Don’t talk any more “about the big snow storms we had when I was a boy.” Let us kill that man who said “the backbone of winter was broken!” | A Ward one man was unable to get to his barn, Tuesday morning, on account of a 10-foot drift that covered the doors. But he found an entrance by sliding in a small door through which the fertilizer was thrown out. | Owing to the blizzard of Monday the Rubber shops closed down at 3 o’clock in order to give the men a chance to get to their homes by daylight. | Those who ventured out on Monday with ears uncovered paid the penalty. Harry Curtis, employed by Burr & Knapp of Bridgeport, frosted his ears badly while riding from his home to the Newtown railroad station, Monday. | Had it not been for Clarence Beach the fearful storm would have recorded a fatality in Newtown. About dusk on Monday he discovered Theodore Sastrom in an insensible condition in the snow in the rear of the Congregational church. Mr Beach aroused him and assisted him to his home at the foot of the hill.

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The valentine sale and supper held under the auspices of the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor in the lower room of the Congregational church passed off very pleasantly, last Saturday afternoon and evening. The room had been tastily fixed up for the occasion by the ladies in charge and throughout the afternoon and evening a large number were in attendance, so much so that all of the valentines were disposed of and those who dropped in late to supper had few of the delicacies that loaded down the tables at first, and the provisions were barely made to stretch out to the requirements. The home-made cake and candies also found a ready market. The sum of about $24 was netted and the young people and their friends are to be congratulated on the success attained.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.